Story Of An Hour By Kate Chopin

1088 Words3 Pages

Kate Chopin stories and novels are mostly known for her feminist. Feminism is the advocacy of women's rights on the basis of the equality of the sexes. “Story of an Hour” was written on April 19, 1894, but wasn't published till December 6, 1894. In Kate Chopin’s short story, “The Story of an Hour" feminism is used a great lot for example Kate Chopin addresses concerns that are feminism by expressing that a woman should have her own unique identity instead of an identity a women is given when she has a husband and the right as a woman to experience her own interests. One main aspect of “The Story of an Hour" that is compelling to the reader is the fact that Mrs. Mallard actually feels some excitement after finding out that her husband has been …show more content…

Once she allows herself to recognize her freedom, she continues to utters the word "free" over and over again. She looks forward to the many years to come that would finally belong to her and only her. In one of the most important pieces of the story, Chopin kinda describes Louise's vision of self-determination. It's not exactly about getting rid of her husband as it is about finally being entirely in charge of her own life, "body and soul." Chopin writes: "There would be no one to live for her during those coming years; she would live for herself. There would be no powerful will bending hers in that blind persistence with which men and women believe they have a right to impose a will upon a fellow-creature." Note the phrase men and women. Louise never catalogs any specific offenses about what her husband has committed against her. Instead the implication seems to be that marriage can be difficult for both parties. So, with all that being said, When Brently Mallard enters the house alive and well in the final scene, his appearance is utterly ordinary. When the doctors determine that Louise "died of heart disease, or of joy that kills," the reader immediately recognizes the irony in that. It seems clear that her shock was not joy over her husband's survival, but what you would call distress over losing her newly found freedom. Louise did briefly experience joy. The joy of imagining herself in control of her own life. And it was the removal of that intense joy that led to her

Open Document